Your Work and the Miracle of Christmas
Scripture — John 1:1-5, 14 (NRSV)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. . . .
And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.
Focus
The Incarnation of the Word of God, the central miracle of Christmas, helps us to understand just how much God values this work and the work we do in it.
Devotion
In case you’re wondering why I’m still writing devotions on Christmas themes, it’s because we are in the Christian season of Christmas. Yes, in popular culture, we usually think of Christmas in terms of what comes before December 25 (decorations, parties, presents, travel, etc.), culminating on Christmas Day, which can feel like the end of Christmas. But in the Christian liturgical year, what comes before Christmas Day is the season of Advent. December 25 is the first day of a 12-day Christmas season. (Yes, just like the song, but without a partridge in a pear tree and all that other stuff. If you’d like to learn more about the liturgical year, check out this De Pree resource: “The Christian Year: An Introduction.”)
A few years ago, I was asked to come up with a short list of the most important verses in the Bible having to do with faith and work. My list included some obvious entries, like Genesis 1:1; 1:27-28; 2:15; 3:16-19; Exodus 20:9-11; Romans 12:1-2; Colossians 3:17, and Ephesians 4:28. I added a few key verses that are not explicitly related to work, but which build a solid theological foundation for a right understanding of work. Among these verses was John 1:14: “And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:14 proclaims what theologians refer to as the Incarnation, an English word derived from the Latin verb “to make flesh.” John 1:14 succinctly puts the fact that the divine Word of God became flesh. Jesus is God in human flesh, the one and only Son of God who uniquely reveals God’s glory, grace, and truth.
The Incarnation is the central, principal miracle of Christmas. Of course, there are many other miracles in the story of the birth of Jesus, like the appearance of the “heavenly host” glorifying God over the place where Jesus was born. The virginal conception was an amazing miracle, of course. But the fact that the baby in Mary’s womb was “truly God and truly man,” using the classic words of the Christian creed, was the main event. The Incarnation was the miracle of all Christmas miracles, the entrance of God into this world as a human being, yet one who was still truly God.
The Incarnation matters greatly for our work. Let me suggest a couple of reasons why.
First, the Incarnation, God’s becoming human in Jesus, reaffirms the value of the material world. God, who created all things good, chose to save the world by becoming part of it. What could be a more powerful sign of God’s care for the material world, the world in which we work? The Incarnation points to God’s care both for the world and for the things we do in this world.
Second, the Incarnation made it possible for the divine Son to work in an ordinary way. Now, for sure, Jesus’s work as Messiah was unique. He alone did the crucial work of dying for our sins, something that was made possible by his Incarnation. But we would do well to remember that Jesus spent most of his adult life doing the work of a craftsman or carpenter. He worked in and, in all likelihood, eventually managed his father’s small business. The fact that the Incarnate Word of God spent the majority of his adult life in ordinary work shows us beyond a shadow of doubt just how much God values this kind of work, the work we do in this world.
So, in this time of year when we celebrate the birth of Jesus, which is to say, the Incarnation of the Word of God, we reaffirm the value of work, ordinary work, work in this world that God created and entered through the Incarnation.
Reflect
As you think about the Incarnation, what thoughts and feelings come to mind?
In what ways do you think the Incarnation is relevant to our understanding of work?
How might your reflection on the Incarnation actually make a difference in your understanding and practice of work?
Act
Talk with your small group or with a Christian friend about the Incarnation and the difference it makes in life, including your work.
Pray
Lord Jesus Christ, Word of God Incarnate, we praise you today for coming to dwell among us as a human being. We honor you for showing us just how much this world matters to God. We worship you as the One who shows us the glory, grace, and truth of the Heavenly Father. We thank you for the work you did on this earth and for how your example helps us to value the work you have given us to do.
As we do our work, dear Lord, may we remember you and labor for your purposes and glory. Amen.
Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: In the Beginning Was the Word (John 1:1-18).
Mark D. Roberts
Senior Fellow
Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a Senior Fellow for Fuller’s Max De Pree Center for Leadership, where he focuses on the spiritual development and thriving of leaders. He is the principal writer of the daily devotional, Life for Leaders, and t...